Thursday 10 November 2011

Clarence By-election: Independent candidate failed Political Advertising 101


A how-to-vote advertisement placed in a local paper by an independent candidate contesting the Clarence By-election suggests the candidate who secured the donkey vote position on the ballot paper is a bit of a donkey himself.

The candidate's ad shows no signs of authorisation, which is a dead-set requirement. The Electoral Commission of NSW's advice to candidates isn't all that difficult to read and comprehend.

The Commission's website clearly states "once the Writs have been issued all electoral material (advertisements, how-to-vote cards, handbills, pamphlets, posters or notices) must include details of the name and full address of the person authorising the printing of the material, and the name of the printer and the full address at which it was printed.
If the electoral material is to be distributed on election day, it must also clearly identify the person, political party, organisation or group on whose behalf the material is to be distributed.
It is acceptable for electoral material not originally including this information to be amended by writing, stamping or overtyping the necessary details.
It is also necessary for any electoral material displayed on electronic billboards, digital road signs and the like to contain visible, legible characters indicating the name and address of the person who has authorised the display."
 


Source: The ad is in The Clarence Valley Review, 9/11/11

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wade not only gets a fail so does the newspaper for printing it without the sauthorisation details.